Moan - Olive Picking Noise

My first morning of being at home and hopeful of peace this week and the olive pickers arrive at the olive grove bordering our house. Voices, trailers and vibrators begin to spoil my day.

When we moved to Jaén fifteen years ago the olive harvesting months were quite soothing. A tap-tapping of sticks in trees followed by a week or two of chain saw noise was quite pleasant.

But now machines have moved in. Before the harvest starts vaccuum blowers start to clear the ground under the trees. Vibrators now shake the branches for harvesting rather than sticks bashing them and then it´s chain saws for pruning time too.

Noise, pollution and repetitive strain injury let alone the stress from constant noise is, I´m sure, set to affect the workers and those living nearby.

I love progress in some ways and hate it in others. Why can´t I choose? Peace is something we all need. Noise is what we seem to get more and more of.

But guess what? It´s started to rain and the noise has stopped. Yeah. Today I don´t mind the wet stuff, a pathetic drizzle and they´re packing up.